Tuesday, 30 October, 2018 – We are inside the airports but go through severe wind and rain squalls before we land in Singapore.
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The meal service begins after midnight, hence the allocation of this part of the journey until the 30th. We are flying in a crappy old A003 or something like that with one advantage of a little more storage space but other than that not a nice plane.
The food service begins with a chicken Ballantine which I definitely did not need. There was a decent Western Australian Shiraz from Xanadu which was OK.
I asked for Duck and that is what I got – very goodJulie had ordered Salmon, what else, but the grilled figs were an added pleasureLast thing I needed was dessert but the cheese platter was very impressive
As we come near Singapore, we are flying around and around in circles. This is due to severe storms and thunderheads. The plane gets one severe thumping.
Once we are inside the terminal, and there was some was some wait for a gate, we bypass the wheelchairs that have been sent to Julie and I and go directly to the lounge we are flying out from the same terminal at which we landed. The kids get off not long after us due to the efforts of the server in London.
Julie manages to convince the people at the lounge with her Doctors letters that Ryan and Tania were our official carers and after some hassles they are eventually allowed into the lounge with us.
I make myself a couple of Bloody Marys and then find some Australian Shiraz. I check out the food which was again quite ordinary. I had a bit of wonton noodle soup which was quite good but nothing else appealed.
We go off to the plane again board near 10:00, it is the famous SQ227 that I had flown so many times over the years. There is a decent wait until takeoff with all the other planes leaving at the same time but the bad weather has passed and the eventual takeoff was smooth.
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After Julie’s late arrival, she is up early to go to the shos for the usual roll, Salmon and water. I have a piece of toast with Ham and melted cheese.
There has been discussion about going to see a matinee today. Tanika has a sore throat and decides she will stay in bed. Julie goes out again and buys the ticket in Covent Garden.
Ryan said that Jack Black, as Dewey Finn, was absolutely tremendous. At one stage this was the highest grossing musical of all time.
Any way, in this musical play, co-written and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the music / songs have all been rewritten.
The show is at 3:00 PM but Julie insists that we get away at 1:45. The trip involves a walk to the station, Earls Court, and a train for several stops to Covent Garden. Ryan and Julie guide us to the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
The TheatreThe Guys waiting to have bags checked before entering the theatre
Ryan has not eaten so goes out for some food, dumplings we understand. We go up to our seats, which is a long climb of a lot of stairs. We purchase a very expensive small glass of wine and take them to the seats. It is a smallish theatre and we have seats near the back and to the side but they are OK.
The StageLooking towards the Orchestra
Eventually Ryan shows up. Shortly after the show commences with the voice of Andrew Lloyd Webber saying he is always asked if the (10 yo) kids are really playing those musical instruments. The answer “definitely”. And they are damn good.
As the show begins, we are told that no photos were to be taken. So I obeyed that but towards the end, the character playing Dewey Finn, the Jack Black part, told the audience that now was the time to take some photos.
The Bandanother view of the band
After the show ends, we take the long walk down the stairs, which I hate. It is even worse as we are going to the street, another 4 or 5 flights. As we walk to the station, we go quite the wrong way. Eventually, we follow the crowd to the station. Our detour may have been a good thing as it enables the crowd to thin out a bit.
Convent Garden station is not as bad as it used to be, with 4 elevators up where there used to be just one. The train is very crowded but I get a seat, the others are happy to stand. When we get to Earls Court, Tanika is waiting for us to join us for dinner. We decide to go to our old favourite Thai place that I photographed the entrance the other day. Gary and I first went to this restaurant 10 years ago.
It takes a while to get our order taken but then service moves relatively quickly after that. The place was quite full but starts clearing out quickly shortly after.
Special mixed entrée for all of us, some of it was quite goodOur Australian Wine, better than the one we orderedTanika’s Chicken CurryMy Duck CurryJulie’s Whole Fish with Spicy sauce, a bit much but she eats it allRyan had Pad ThaiAn extra green chicken curry arrived, Ryan ate most of itMy Coconut RiceTanika’s Sticky Rice
We walk back to the apartment. The end of a long and eventful day. We leave London for the long trip back home tomorrow.
Thursday, 25 October, 2018 – nice but cool, cold at night
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Today we go to the Borough Market near London Bridge. Two trains does it. Now we have been to this market several times before and I don’t take many photos.
I suggested the night before that we go at 11:30 which was a dumb idea because the market was packed with people as it was the whole time we were there. We fight our way through the crowds and eventually find the shop that does confit duck.
Selfie of me and my Confit Duck roll
It is clear that there is nowhere to sit. I stand behind a pole next to a stall that labels itself the best Burger in the market. There is a queue for that stall that just keeps growing. A big black guy at the front takes the orders, collects the money and cooks many of the burgers. There are also two other assistants madly cooking away too.
Julie wanders off to theoretically order food but is unsuccessful. She initially could not find me when she returned empty handed. She then spotted a wine bar across the way. We go inside and I take a seat while she goes out again to get her Salmon for lunch.
Fine slicing of what looks like pateUsing a blowtorch to melt the cheese on a pulled rollLooks like Julie buying Salmon from an outdoor grillI invested 35 Euro in a bottle of wine and a seat for an hour or twoMain bar areaThere is an upstairs completely booked out
There is also a downstairs which has a private room, not in use. It also has 4 clean toilets. There were that many mothers that came in, pretended to look at the menu while the kids went downstairs to the toilet and then said nothing suited them and left. I imagine that these guys have seen it all many times before.
Finally Julie returns and has her 3 course meal – wine, coffee and (sparkling) water. Although she doesn’t drink any of the wine, just yet and heads out again into the market. Apparently it is still just as crowded.
When Julie comes back again, she is keen to leave as she has to go to Oxford tomorrow and do some packing / rearranging. We go out the door on the street and straight to the train station. Two trains and a walk and we are home.. No more photos
Monday, 22 October, 2018 – Drizzling, who cares, we are leaving
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Yes, it is time to leave our paradise here in Versailles. It has been great.
Last look at the wonderful breakfast spread
At breakfast this morning a Dutch couple have stayed overnight and join us at the table. After some discussion it turns out that the guy works in Rotterdam and with some of the people that Julie met with while she was there. Interesting coincidence. They exchanged business cards.
Emma has booked Patrick’s large van again. However, it was not that van that showed up but a smaller taxi. Ryan is able to cram the 4 large suitcases in the back but he has to ride to Gare du Nord with the fifth suitcase on his lap and Tanika another heavy bag on her lap too. Emma tells me that she has permanently fired Patrick.
The driver is an absolute champion at darting in and out of traffic and crossing lanes. Once again there is construction going on everywhere, including along the Champs de Elysee which makes things even more difficult. But we get there in good time.
Then there is the shemozzle of the immigration exit from France. The queues are not as long as the ones at Versailles Palace but they are pretty horrendous. Eventually after some mishaps by me we get through France only to now have to deal with entering Britain and then security. These aren’t too bad and we end up standing in a queue waiting to board. Finally, we are on our way into the Eurostar. They allow Ryan to enter with the bags from the car in front so we are quite close to them as we sit in the front of the carriage. The assigned seating is strange but we work out an exchange with a French girl and so we are all sitting together.
Ryan and Tanika are hungry, not having done breakfast, and go down to the catering car and come back with food, wine for me and beer for Ryan. Nice.
We are in “middle class” on the Eurostar and eventually they bring us a meal and some more wine. Also nice.
As we arrive in London we get off at Kings Cross / St Pancras. We go over to the Piccadilly line to go to our apartment. Ryan has worked out that by going a few extra train stops we will have the shortest walk to the apartment, pushing all the bags. We get off at Earl’s Court where Julie and I have stayed a few times in the past and see a lot of familiar sites.
When we arrive at the apartment we are let in and greeted by Jenna, deputising for the owner. Jenna shows us around and then departs.
Large bedroom in the apartmentThe Bathtub and Sinks set-up in our bedroomPart of the kitchen area and lounge room. I am already set up at the end of the dining tableMore of the lounge room
Naturally, Julie goes out prancing to get supplies while the kids go their way to shops etc in London. I read the instructions and recommendations from the owner. He has suggested a few places including two just down the road a block or so – Italian and French. After a glass of wine or so, we go down to check them out. The Italian is just a pizza place but the French looks quite good. We go in, first guests in the restaurant tonight, and the staff are quite nice to us. The menu looks good so we agree to stay.
We order some wine and then food starts coming.
Amuse bouche of olive and caramelised onionsJulie’s starter of Smoked salmon and vegies with a nice touch of HorseradishPouring Stock into Julie’s bouillabaisse
I had a large confit duck leg with grilled figs and mash potato. For some reason the photos won’t load. Julie scored the figs, one of her favourites.
I found it ironic that we did not go to a Bouchon while in France but did on our first day in London. I suggested to Julie and Irish coffee but she has bought some Jameson Irish Whiskey today. Thus we go back to the apartment for said Irish Coffee and some more wine.
Another days of ups and downs but the ups prevailed eventually.
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But first a couple of shots from Julie’s visit to Paris yesterday.
Impressive, whatever it isLois tells me that this is in fact the Opera House
I should say something at this stage about the quality of refurbishments done to make this a really good Hotel inside. Tradesmen did the work under the guidance of Emma’s Husband and Son. Really high class.
I should also comment about how quiet it was out here. Compared to the constant noise of Luxembourg, it was a very pleasant relief.
In the morning there was a strong smell of cooking from the main kitchen. The gates were opened and people started coming in obviously for a family and friends lunch.
I was supposed to go out to look at wine / food with Julie at 1:00 PM. But she did not turn up. Instead she spent the afternoon in St. Germaine. These are her many photos from there.
Brewery Van in St. GermaineSweet StuffPre-cooked foodsLots of DuckLots and lots of sweetsand moreand they keep comingQuichesVariety of goodiesVariety of ready to go foodsMore takeawaysShellfishFeed the Man MeatInteresting PresentationHot takeawaysReal Confit Duck including fatBriocheHot Ham, rabbit and duck
Finally, around 5:00 PM Julie arrives. She says we should go out then. OK, I have misgivings but head out with her.
Our local Bus stopOne stand market set-up in the bus carpark
As we head further along, we are going down hill more and more. I can see that it is going to be very difficult for me to walk back up that hill especially since it appears to be a further long way down hill from here. So I turn back. Julie says just go straight and I can’t miss our place. WRONG! I can miss anything. I go walking right by the entrance and end up past the Church and totally lost. Fortunately, I was able to find my way back to the bus stop where I waited and waited and waited, getting colder all the time.
Finally Julie comes up the hill having spent an enormous amount of time in a hairdresser shop. She has brought food for us.
Julie’s Dinner
Julie brought me an Asian dish of fried rice with marinated beef and some chicken wontons, it was quite appreciated as were the few drops of wine.
